# LightUp Learning vs Physics Lab AR

The clearest difference is rating: Physics Lab AR at 4.7 against LightUp Learning's 3.0. Physics Lab AR also leads on ratings volume (1.9K vs 10) and review sentiment (48% vs 32%). LightUp Learning's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Physics Lab AR sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. LightUp Learning asks for nothing beyond the download.

Physics Lab AR holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Physics Lab AR has 1.9K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of LightUp Learning's written reviews are positive against 48% of Physics Lab AR's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LightUp Learning | Physics Lab AR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightup-learning/id817956889/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physics-lab-ar/id1298984261/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **1.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 31.6% of reviews | **47.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 143 MB | 177 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LightUp](https://appshunter.io/developer/817956892) | [Turtle Sim LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1568741108) |

## What reviewers say

### LightUp Learning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightup-learning/id817956889)

Build and learn about electronic circuits using magnetic blocks. Visualize electricity flow and program projects with drag-and-drop coding. Requires a physical LightUp kit.

**Highlights:** Magnetic circuit block assembly, Visualize electricity flow, Drag-and-drop coding interface, Project building guides, X-ray vision for circuits

**In-app purchases:** none


### Physics Lab AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physics-lab-ar/id1298984261)

Explore physics through interactive virtual experiments and augmented reality. Build and test electrical circuits with over 100 components, visualize electromagnetic fields, and even design your own galaxy. Ideal for students, teachers, and curious minds of all ages.

**Highlights:** Virtual lab with AR mode, Build 3D electric circuits, 100+ circuit components, Precise scientific calculations, Electromagnetic field visualization, Design custom galaxies

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Component Subscription | $1.49 | per month |
| 60 Diamonds | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10 Diamonds | $0.99 | one-time |
| 120 Diamonds | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300 Diamonds | $4.99 | one-time |
| 680 Diamonds | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1280  Diamonds | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Nice app
- 🚀 Awesome app
- 💡 Good app idea
- 👍 Helpful for learning
- 👍 Useful for teachers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Unstable app
- 🐛 Buggy app
- 🐛 App doesn't work
- 🔧 Needs improvements

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when opening experiments or circuits
- Wires don't attach properly
- Objects fall through the table
- Camera position issues
- App freezes or becomes unresponsive

**Requested features**

- Add more components like transistors and potentiometers
- Improve camera controls and view options
- Implement saving and loading of circuits
- Add more tutorials and explanations
- Support for Vietnamese and other languages


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LightUp Learning free?

LightUp Learning is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Physics Lab AR free?

Physics Lab AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, LightUp Learning or Physics Lab AR?

Physics Lab AR is rated higher. LightUp Learning averages 3.0 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Physics Lab AR averages 4.7 from 1.9K ratings.

### Do LightUp Learning or Physics Lab AR have ads?

Neither LightUp Learning nor Physics Lab AR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LightUp Learning or Physics Lab AR?

LightUp Learning ships an update every 2 months, and Physics Lab AR every 2 months. Most recently, LightUp Learning was updated on October 7, 2026 and Physics Lab AR on October 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*